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QPR vs Watford. Watford currently top with 15 points from 6 games. QPR 23rd with 2 points from 5 games. Watford's squad and Watford's results QPR will be without Ben Sahar, because it's Yom Kippur.
QPR OFFICIAL SITE THE FRIDAY PREVIEW: WATFORD
Fancied by many to occupy one of the two automatic promotion places at the start of the campaign, the Hornets have made an impressive start to the new campaign after their demotion from the top-flight.
Aidy Boothroyd's side currently sit at the summit of the Coca Cola Championship, with five victories from their opening six fixtures.
Watford kick-started their campaign with a devastating last-gasp smash-and-grab raid at Molineux on the opening day.
Two goals in the final four minutes, from Jordan Stewart and hit-man Marlon King, gave Boothroyd's men the perfect pick-me-up after last season's horror show in the Premiership.
A comfortable Carling Cup victory against out-of-sorts Gillingham followed four days later, before Lee Williamson bagged his first goal for his new Club against highly-fancied Sheffield United to help Watford clinch back-to-back league triumphs.
But the Hornets were stung seven days later, when the Foxes of Leicester City ran riot at the Walkers Stadium. Boothroyd's side were second best in every department, as goals from Iain Hume, DJ Campbell, Alan Sheehan and Mark De Vries helped seal a maiden victory of the season for the Foxes.
A Carling Cup exit at the hands of League One Southend United followed shortly after, only for Watford to bounce back with a comfortable 2-0 victory against Ipswich Town.
Victory against Southampton last Sunday afternoon saw them return to the top of the division, thanks in part to a Darius Henderson double.
And the Hornets - inspired by that man Henderson again - made it three wins on the spin with a 2-1 win at Ninian Park on Wednesday... QPR
Watford Official Site AIDY AFTER 'INNER WINNERS' AT QPR
AIDY Boothroyd takes his side the short distance to Loftus Road at the weekend, looking for a remarkable sixth win in just seven starts.
After successive victories against Southampton and Cardiff City in the past week the Hornets' boss has targeted a hat-trick of wins that will keep his side top of the early Championship table.
But he isn't underestimating this weekend's opponents Queens Park Rangers despite their very difficult start to the season, which has left them lurking perilously close to the division's basement.
"These games are always the tough ones, the toughest ones really," said the effervescent Hornets' boss. "I think that as a group of players we've got some very good footballers here now, a very good squad, we're strong.
"But when you're strong it's about finding the 'inner winner' to consistently perform at a high level no matter who he is playing against, to make sure he wins because that's what it is all about.
"If we can consistently win and the players can rise to each occasion to win then that's the mark of a successful team.
"QPR on Saturday will be a very, very difficult game, they'll be fighting and because it's a local derby anything can happen."
Speaking from the lofty position of top spot in the league ladder Boothroyd is keen to stress that he'll be keeping feet firmly on the ground in the build up to the weekend date with the Hoops.
"We're top so far only and won't get complacent because we've actually picked up results when we might not have deserved them for our performances. Still, it's a nice habit to have.
"What would we have done different? Not a great deal to be honest which is testament to the players and staff and their ability to bounce back [from relegation] and get on with it and to respect the Championship.
"I'm pleased so far but I won't be getting carried away and I don't expect anybody else to either. The minute that they [the players] do then I'll come down on them.
"Yes we're top of the table and yes we've got 15 points but are we the end product? We are nowhere near it, we've got work to do, we've had our meetings and we know what we've got to do to get better."
Following Wednesday's positive result in Wales the team and staff stayed on an extra night in the principality before returning by coach late on Thursday afternoon. And in that time the manager was able to contemplate yet further on the slender 2-1 win at Ninian Park.
"We were fortunate to get the result and Cardiff will still feel aggrieved, but whatever league you are in you sometimes have to dig out results when you don't deserve them. In the end we managed to do that.
"We showed 'backs to the wall' defending and managed to nick the goals that won the game. It's not an easy place to go and nor will it be, I'm sure Cardiff will bounce back very quickly and we've got to be sure to learn the lessons and not brush things under the carpet just because we've won."
Inevitably the media's questioning ahead of this game turned to the form of Darius Henderson, the man-of-the-moment at Vicarage Road.
"He's a guy that has come on a very long way in a very short space of time and he's found another level this season following the arrival of Nathan Ellington, who I think is a fantastic player and very gifted footballer who, once he settles, will fly.
"Darius is the main man because he is getting the goals. He's worthy of his place and he's proved that. If he keeps scoring and helping the team out then he's got a good chance of staying in the side.
"He's taken a bit of rejection, he's come back and we've patched things up. What matters now is that he stays in the team, keeps getting the goals, keeps playing as well as he is doing and we keep getting the points on the board.
"We're in love again now, but it's definitely not about one man, it never is, it's a team effort, a squad effort and I only hope I'm here talking about how many goals we've got and where we are at the top in May."
Having taken the brave decision to omit the man he rates as 'the Championship's best player' in the shape of Marlon King, Boothroyd admits that he won't be afraid to further tinker with his squad this weekend.
"It's not my job to keep players happy, that's their job. The environment is such that you come in, work hard, learn and do what the job requires, whatever the individual job is. People deal with and are professional enough to get on if they are left out, luckily I've not just got good players I've got good characters and that's important in a long season.
"What the team is now won't necessarily be the team come February, March or April because you get suspensions and injuries. It's very often those guys that are not in the side today that get in the team and get the points that count at that time.
"At the minute we're getting the points with the guys that are in the side now and that's why everybody has got to be at it because if you're not, you'll be out of it." Watford
John Gregory - QPR Official Site - RESPONSE REQUIRED
R's gaffer John Gregory has called on his players to stand up and be counted this weekend.
Table-toppers Watford head to W12 on Saturday afternoon and the message is clear: "It's time to get tough."
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, Gregory said: The same group of players that played on Tuesday evening have to be ready to perform this weekend.
"There's no hiding place - we can't hide.
"Tough times call for tough people and I've got to make sure I've got enough tough people in the dressing room to face Watford on Saturday."
Gregory could welcome Gareth Ainsworth back into his squad on Saturday afternoon, after the experienced midfielder returned to light training earlier in the week following his spell on the sidelines owing to a fractured leg.
Michael Mancienne (back) faces a race against time to face the Hornets, but Pat Kanyuka (thigh) and Simon Walton (fractured leg) are both ruled out, while Ben Sahar is unavailable. QPR
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See also: Watford-Mad pre-match review
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Friday, September 21, 2007
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